Research Team

At least hundreds of Ethiopian migrants and asylum seekers were killed by Saudi Arabian authorities at the Yemen-Saudi border; these killings may qualify as crimes against humanity. Authorities in Saudi Arabia have arrested human rights campaigners, public intellectuals, and nonviolent dissidents. They have also condemned people to death or decades in prison for postings they […]

Although it falls short of the minimal requirements for the eradication of human trafficking, the Saudi Arabian government is working hard to achieve this goal. Saudi Arabia stayed on Tier 2 because the government showed generally greater efforts in comparison to the previous reporting period, taking into account any potential effects of the COVID-19 outbreak […]

The Saudi royal family also had to deal with the realities of public opinion at home, since a significant number of Saudis have become increasingly critical of the regime as a result of the US military presence. As the biggest oil exporter in the world, the location of some of the most advanced military installations […]

Germany decided to stop all arms shipments to Saudi Arabia on Monday and barred 18 Saudis who are thought to have been involved in the murder of writer Jamal Khashoggi from much of Europe. The restrictions apply to every member of the passport-free Schengen area of the European Union, indicating that Germany is prepared to […]

A joint summit between the UK and Saudi Arabia was held in Riyadh with the objective of strengthening economic relations between the two nations while talks regarding a more comprehensive trade agreement between the UK and the Gulf states are still ongoing. The government stated in a statement that around 450 British businesspeople are attending […]

On Monday, Saudi Arabia issued a warning to Israel not to attack Rafah, describing it as a “bloody and systematic” operation meant to drive Palestinians from the Gaza Strip. The Saudi Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it is a clear breach of international law and human rights norms to intentionally target civilian areas […]

The elusive prospect of a representative government chosen by the people of Saudi Arabia brought together activists and dissidents from across the diaspora for an in-person conference held inside a ballroom of the Gaylord Convention Center overlooking the National Harbor outside of Washington, DC. With the aim of laying the groundwork for the eventual overthrow […]

Amazon, a massive online retailer, will provide over 700 migrant workers in Saudi Arabia with $1.9 million to address concerns related to their human rights and safety, including inadequate living circumstances and irregular wages. After hiring Verité, Amazon discovered infractions such as poor living conditions and safety concerns at Saudi warehouses. Problems included inconsistent wages, […]

A young Saudi activist for women’s rights was detained for “her choice of clothing and support for women’s rights,” and an anti-terrorism court secretly sentenced her to 11 years in jail. In a statement to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Saudi authorities verified that Manahel al-Otaibi was found guilty on January 9 of […]

As the kingdom indicates that it is willing to accept diplomatic relations with the Jewish state provided that it commits to Palestinian statehood Saudi Arabia has increased the number of arrests of its nationals for posting on social media about the Israel-Hamas conflict. Restrictions on free speech and political expression, as well as detentions for […]

GENEVA-FIFA confirmed a sponsorship deal with Aramco, the national oil company of Saudi Arabia, on Thursday, strengthening its relationship with the country. Aramco generated a $121 billion profit last year. The agreement was anticipated and eventually became unavoidable after Saudi Arabia was virtually confirmed to host the men’s World Cup in 2034 in October of […]

Saudi Arabia was selected to chair the UN committee tasked with advancing gender parity and women’s empowerment globally, following an unchallenged candidacy denounced by human rights organizations for the kingdom’s “abysmal” record on women’s rights. At the annual meeting of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in New York on Wednesday, there was […]

The escalation of Israeli troops’ arbitrary arrest operations against Palestinians has alarmed the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). On the eve of Palestinian Prisoners Day, it was reported that Israel now holds over 9,500 detainees, including over 200 minors and 80 female inmates. Approximately 600 inmates are receiving life sentences, while more than 3,600 are […]

 The United Nations criticized Saudi Arabia for its record on human rights, which included the death penalty, women’s rights, speech prosecutions, and the reported massacre of migrants at its border with Yemen. More than 50 measures in favor of women have already been enacted, according to the Saudi Arabian delegation at the kingdom’s first official […]

For a considerable amount of time, Saudi Arabia has been accountable for flagrant breaches of human rights. These infractions cover a wide variety of topics, which appear in both legislation and practice. These include the harsh suppression of the rights to free speech, peaceful assembly, and association, as well as the continued use of the […]

After bombings in Syria that were attributed to Israel killed many military personnel, including at least two senior commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a top Iranian ambassador issued a warning, stating that the Islamic Republic reserved the right to react. Written by Zahra Ershadi, charge d’affaires for the Iranian Mission to the […]

The Washington Center for Human Rights successfully hosted a meaningful congressional briefing titled “Review of the Human Rights Condition in Saudi Arabia.” The event took place on March 29th, from 11 to 12 pm, providing much time for in-depth analysis and dialogue.  Speakers embarked on a critical analysis of the human rights conditions in Saudi […]

For yelling during games, twelve Saudi Arabian football supporters might be fined three million riyals (£633,000) and go to jail for up to five years. Trial proceedings have begun after the Saudi Ministry of Sport charged Al Safa’s fans with expressions of sectarianism. Initially, after footage of fans singing during games went viral on social […]

The United Nations criticized Saudi Arabia for its record on human rights, which included the death sentence, prosecutions for exercising free speech, freedoms for women, and the reported slaughter of migrants at its border with Yemen. More than 50 measures in favor of women have already been enacted, according to the Saudi Arabian delegation at […]

For the first time, Saudi Arabia will have a written criminal code. The 116-page document, meant to remain confidential, was leaked to the public and seen by two legal firms and a member of the Bar Association. Its validity was certified by Saudi legal experts. The Quran and Sunnah (traditions and customs based on the […]

Saudi authorities killed hundreds of migrants at the Saudi-Yemen border in what may have amounted to crimes against humanity in 2023, despite spending billions of dollars to boost their reputation. Along with unjust trials and cruel detention procedures, the government often condemned people to death or decades in jail for their social media activities. The […]

A leaked draft of Saudi Arabia’s first written penal code exposes the hypocrisy behind Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman’s promises to portray his government as progressive and inclusive and falls dreadfully short of international human rights standards. Several Saudi legal experts have verified the legitimacy of the leaked draft criminal code, however Saudi Arabia’s authorities […]

The capital club Real Madrid has lodged a protest against the referee of Saturday’s encounter at El Sadar stadium for allegedly insulting their Brazilian player Vinicius Jr. in his match report. In light of the material that emerged in the media following Real Madrid’s press release, which portrays El Sadar in a racist light, Osasuna […]

Human rights are a contentious issue in Saudi Arabia. Several foreign groups and nations have accused and blamed the Saudi government, which upholds sharia law under the House of Saud’s ultimate control, of breaching several human rights throughout the kingdom. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s authoritarian government is often listed as one of the “worst […]

Twelve of Israel’s most prominent human rights organizations have signed an open letter accusing the country of failing to comply with the international court of justice’s (ICJ) provisional ruling that it should facilitate access of humanitarian aid into Gaza. When the The Hague court delivered a preliminary verdict in response to South Africa’s lawsuit, which […]

The UN Syria Commission of Inquiry has cautioned that Syria is currently going through a surge of violence not witnessed before 2020. Parties to the conflict have attacked civilians and infrastructure on several frontlines in actions that most certainly qualify as war crimes, and an unparalleled humanitarian catastrophe is driving Syrians into ever-deeper despair. The […]

Human rights attorneys and Palestinian Canadians are suing Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly for allegedly breaching Canada’s legal and international duties by exporting military hardware to Israel. The complaint requests that the Canadian government cease granting export licenses for military hardware and technology that is headed for Israel before a federal court. Canada is a […]

At least 112 Palestinians were fired at by Israeli authorities in Gaza while they were waiting for food handouts, leaving 760 others injured. As the death toll in Gaza surpasses 30,000, UN relief head Martin Griffiths remarks, “Life is draining out of Gaza at terrifying speed” in reference to the onslaught on aid seekers. At […]

Between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea, which includes both Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), which is composed of the West Bank, which includes East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip, there are now about 6.8 million Jewish Israelis and 6.8 million Palestinians living there. In the majority of this territory, Israel is […]

The World Court, commonly known as the International Court of Justice, convened its fourth day of hearings on Thursday regarding the legal ramifications of Israel’s actions and policies “in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.” During the six-day proceedings, which address Israeli rule over the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza Strip, dozens of nations are anticipated […]

Rights have been curtailed in a number of nations in recent years due to anti-feminist policies and discourse. UN Women reports a deepening of gender inequality. They project that it will take an additional 286 years to close the gender inequalities in women’s and girls’ legal rights worldwide. Governments need to pay attention to this […]

Human Rights stated that the Houthis had detained a judge in Yemen’s capital of Sanaa, most likely as a result of his remarks on X, the official Twitter platform, denouncing Houthi operations in the Red Sea. In the parts of Yemen under their authority, the Houthis, sometimes called Ansar Allah, intimidate, arrest, and imprison anybody […]

Saudi Arabia continues to widely violate fundamental human rights both inside and beyond of its borders, despite having endorsed several recommendations during its most recent Universal Periodic Review. The Saudi government has made significant reform announcements, such as those pertaining to women’s rights, but these initiatives are still insufficient, and advancement is hampered by the […]

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has provided funding for politically motivated killings in Yemen. After the UAE engaged American mercenaries in 2015, the training they received was utilized to train locals, which led to an increase in targeted assassinations. The results coincide with the Yemeni conflict’s resurgence in the worldwide media following attacks on ships […]